Submarine telegraph system



A. M. cURTls SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM 15 Sheets-Shoe?l vIl.

Filed June 30, 1926 Oct. 30, 1928.

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A. M. CURTIS A SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed June so, 192e 16 sheets-sheet 2 /m/e/f/or.' a Aasfef? /l Caf/As.

Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,328

A. M. CURTIS SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed June 50, 1926 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,328

A. M. CURTIS SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed June so, 192e 1e Sheets-Sheet 4 /m/en 0r.' Aas/ef? M. Cuff/5.

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Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,328

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A. M. CURTIS SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 50, 1926 wvl||Hu Oct. 30, 1928.

A. M. CURTIS SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

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Oct. 30; 1928. 1,689,328

A. M. cURTls SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed Juneso, 192e 1e Sheets-Sheet a by A/fjf.

Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,328

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A. M. CURTIS SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Ovct. 30, 1928.

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Filed June 30, 1926 oa. 3o, 192s.

A. M. CURTIS ASUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed June so, 192e 16 Sheets-Shea*I 12 Oct. 30, 1928.

A. M. CURTIS SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH y SYSTEM 16 Sheets-Sheet l5 Filed June 50, 1926 A. M. cURTls SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Oct. 30, 1928.

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SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed June [50, 1926 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 y A/fy.

Oct. 30, 1928.

A. M. cum-ls SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed June 50, 1926 Uiu'ranI STATES PATENT fol=1='1c1-:.

ASTEN M. CURTIS, OF EAST r-ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF YORK.

sUBMAnINE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

Appncaaon med :une so, 192e. serial No. 119,537'. v

` This invention relatesto signaling systems way of example and illustrated in the accomand particularly to loaded submarine cable panying drawings, three ystations lare cm- 50y 4telegraph systems. e v t p loyed, two terminal stations and a relayv sta- The broad object of this invention 1s to tion. The use of a relay station is desirable, 5 improve the operation of signaling systems since one terminal station is located at a conof the type adapted for use with submarine slderable distance from they landing place ot cables and a more specific object is to increase the submarine cable. When transmitting in the speed at which messages may be trans one direction, say from west to east, the ar# mitted from one station to another over long, rangementisbriely'as follows. Five tape conloaded, submarine telegraph cables.l trolled transmitters `are successively associ- The development of the highly permeable. ated by a multiplex distributor with a land materials to which the name permalloyhas line leading to the relay station. Here one 60 been generically applied, has made it possible section of a distributor transfers the impulses to provide a long submarine cable having electo storing relays, which in turn transmit im-v trical characteristics which permit signaling pulses by means of a second section of said thereover with greatly decreased attenuadistributor to the submarine cable through jtion and distortion compared with cables a sending network which shapes them. The 65l heretofore used. However, at high operating distributor also interpolates ground intervals speeds the duplex arrangement presents difbetween the signal pulses to further improve 2o icultics which have been avoided by adopttheir form. At the second terminal station ing the'simplex method with periodical rethe cable terminates in ashaping network versals ofthe direction of transmission. Ref.- having a high impedance with respect to the 70 erence is made to U. S. Patents No. 1,586,884 cable, the network being coupled by a transgranted to G. W. Elmen', June 1, 1926, former to a multi-stage amplifier. Atv the No. 1,586,874 granted to O. E. Buckley, output of the amplifier are three relays. One

June 1, 1926, No. 1,521,870 granted to A. A. of these relays comprises a unidirectional Clokey, January' 6, 1925, No. 1,586,972 signaling arrangement includingarelay, one .75 l'granted to A. M. Curtis, June 1, 1926, No, winding of which is under control of the re- 1,601,941, granted to A. A. Clokcy, October ceiving distributor, and a vibrating relay. 5, 1926, and No. 1,654,328, granted Vt0 .1, J The signals are further transmitted by means Gilbert, December 27, 1927.'. Certain details of a printing relay and the receiving distribuof the present System are covered in other tor to the receiving printers. The second repatent applications, as 4will be pointed out lay controls the synchronization ofthe transhereinatter. A mitting and receiving distributors by' the The plegent invention contemplates the ClOCkhfLnd melilld. llIlldlIOvCtlOIll Chai'- improvement of the systems of the prior art actu' 0f the Slglahllg armngemen@ Tendls by combining in a wel workable System a the synchronization lndependent of inductlve long loaded cable and synchronized multiplex dltm'bans due t0 the "1b/mmHg relll- The sending and receiving equipment together hud relay COILI'OIS means for Correctmgfof 40 with shaping networks, ampliers and Vibrat' zam Wander' ling relays constituting a system which per- After tlfansmlttmg for a' predetermmed mits a message rate in excess of 1200 char- Pune Serles of Contacts are c lfsed which Set' 90 acters per minute. In addition a unidirecm m1011011 means for automat/many reversing v tional translating device is employed to sup, the dlleCtlOIl Of transmission. In Changing ply the Signals t0 the Vibrating relay in Such the .direct-10D OtI'iLIISmSSB, the amplifier 1S manner as to prevent the latter from aiectconnected in or shunted out in steps to preing the synchronization. vent interference therewith, due to surges or 05 In the complete system herein described by other disturbances.

rl`he arrangement of apparatus for transmission from east to west differs from the above in that the amplifier and signal relays are located at the relay station and the signaling and correcting pulses are transmitted over telegraph wires to the receiving apparatus at the terminal station.

A clearer understanding of the invention will be gained from a consideration ofthe following detailed description together with the appended drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the system; Figs. 2 to 6 show the west terminal station; Figs. 7 to 10 show therelay station: and Figs. 11 to 16 show the east terminal station.

Fig. 2 shows a portion of the receiving distributor at thewest terminal station, together with a diagrammatic showing of the receiving printers.

Fig. 3 shows the rings of the receiving distributor which control the vibrating relay to gether with a schematic showing of the correcting apparatus.

Fig. 4 shows the switching mechanism for rearranging the circuits when a change is to be made from sending to receiving and vice versa.

Fig. 5 shows a portion of the sending distributor together with diagrammatic transmitters.

Fig. 6 shows the correcting ringsand drive rings of the sending distributor. Timing cams for initiating the transfer from receiving to sending and vice versa are also shown.

Fig. 7 shows the transfer switching mechanism at the relay station together with other equipment.

Fig. 8 shows the receiving rings on the distributor at the relay station and the storing relays.

Fig. 9 shows a portion of the receiving amplier at the relay station.

Fig. 10 shows the sending and transfer rings on the distributor and the timing cams for controlling the transfer. l

Fig. 11 shows the amplifier, signaling relay, synchronizing relay, etc., -at the east i" station.

Fig. 12 shows a portion of the distributor at the east 'terminal station with the printers A indicated schematicall receiving distributor at the relay station extend thelocal cable to the storing relays. At

ya slightly later time the contact circuit of the storing relays and the asaicialed sending battery are connected by means of the sending distributor and the contacts of relay 902 to the submarine cable 900 through the sending net work. At an instant later, measured by the time lag due to the inductance of the cable', relay 1170 will connect the cable through the amplifier and the receiving distributor to the printer corresponding to the tape tra nsmitter above mentioned. After messages have been transmitted in this direction for a predetermined length of time, the timing apparatus at each station, which is set to measure the same time interval, will cause the cams 414, 711, 712 and 1426 to make a lhalf revolution. In its new position cam 414 will extend the local cable to the receiving distributors and printers at the west terminal. Cam 711 will extend the output side of the amplifier at the relay station to the local cable. Cam 712 will cause relay 902'to reverse its armature 'and connect the submarine cable to the input side of the amplifier at the relay station. Cam 1426 will cause relay 1170 to reverse its armature and connect the cable through the sending network to thev sending distributor and the transmitters at the east terminal. The path of the signals now extends from the tape transmitter at the east terminal through the sending distributor and sending network and. Contact of relay 1170 to the cable; from the cable at the relay station over contact of relay 902 through the amplifier and contact-s of cam 711 to the local cable; and at the west terminal from the local cable over contacts of cam 414 to the receiving distributor and printers. The nature and operation of the various parts of the system will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description.

A description of the apparatus at the various stations with their relation to each other will new be given.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS.

Apparatus in general. 120

In general, the apparatus at the terminal stations consists of five transmitters and tive mission, i :m

standard type printing telegraph transmitsl ters and receivers operated multiplex.' These instruments are well known in the art and have been indicated schematically at 227 to 231 and at 5-17 to 521. Reduced to its 'least terms each printer 227 to 231 consists of tive magnetsone for each impulse of the five pulse code employed, which, when operated in accordance with] the code, select means for printing the corresponding character, and a magnet -212, 213, 214, etc., for advancing the printing surface to receive the next character and releasing theprinting means. Each of the transmitters 517 to 521 similarly reduce to means such as a tape for controlling the application ofthe particular combination of potentials on ive outgoing conductors to represent the code corresponding to the charactei' to ,be` transmitted, and a magnet for wiping out the setting and advancing the tape to the next character.

The distributors are of the type well known in the multiplex telegraph art, comprising a plurality of concentric rings generally arranged in pairs, one solid and one segmented, although in some cases one solid ring serves two segmented rings. A conducting brush mounted on a rotatable arm makes electrical contact between the rings of a pair. The segmented rings are in general divided into five sections orv channels, one foreach printer or transmitter, and each channel is further subdivided according to the functions to be performed, usually into tive sub-sections, one or more for each element of the code.

At the west terminal two distributor faces are provided. Rings 200 to `206 and 300 to 301 appear on one face, which will be called i the receivingdistributor, and rings 500 to ffl 506 and 600 to 603 appear in the second face, which will be called the sending distributor. Brushes 207 to 209 and 303 serve the receiving distributor, While brushes 507, 508, 509, 604 and 605 serve the sending distributor. All brushes are driven from one shaft.

In particular rings 200, 201 and 202 of the receiving face distribute the incoming signals to the printers and to leak recbrders; rings 203 and 204 operate the magnets which control the' print-ing operation; rings 205 and 206 close one part of the timing circuit; rings 300 and 301 cooperate with the relays 313, 314 and 315 to reproduce the signals. The general operation of the vibrating relays will be described later, but for a detailed-discussion reference may be made to application of M. B. Kerr (Case 9), Serial No. 117,047, filed June 19, 1926. l

On the transmitting distributor, rings 500, 501 and 502 transmit and record the signal impulses sent out; rings 503 and 504 operate the'tape control magnets 517 etc.; rings 505 and 506 close one part of the'timing circuit; 4

rings 600 and 601 send out impulses'for drivlng the distributor motor at the relay station;

rings 602 and 603 cooperate with the corrector relays 316 and 317 to bring the distributor brushes into synchronism with those at the distant station. f

The driving mechanism for both .the brushes and the timing mechanism is a direct current motor (not shown). It is, of course,

`highly desirable that this motor rotate the brush shaftat a constant speed. In order to produce this desired constancy of speed, an alternating current is generated by the control fork-401 and transformer-404, and is applied by means of slip rings indicated at 405 to the armature winding of the motor. This current acts to hold the armature at a constant speed determined by the rate of vibration of the Yfork and opposes any change in rate due to change in voltage ofthe direct current supply. here is a tendency to change phase with this arrangement, which is overcome bythe use of an impulse motor, or phonic wheel 402, driven by the control "fork 401. This motor is practically without phase shift for change in voltage and hence,

when in mechanical synchronism with the direct current motor, creates an opposing torquel reducing the phase shift. The impulse motor is mounted directlyon the drive shaft of the distributor brushes, but the direct current motor being of higher speed, is

geared thereto. For a complete description' of this driving arrangement reference is made to patent application of A. A. Clokey (Case 18), Serial No. 112,463, filed May 29, 1926. The driving mechanism at the east terminal is the same as above described. That at the relay station differs only in thatD the speed control is efected by impulses sent out directly from the distributor at the west terminal.

Since it is very diiicult to adjust two tuning forksto vibrate at exactly the same rato, the fork at one station, in this case the west station', is adjustedto vibrate ata slightly higher rate and means is provided for requently adjusting the position of the brushes at the receiving station under the control of the sending station. The method used is that usually known as clockhand correction.

The mechanism for making this correction is shown in Fig. 3. Shaft 304 is driven by the motor and by means of the differential bevel gears 305 drives shaft 306 which carries the brushes. The corrector magnets 307 and 308 actJv upon the gears 305 by means of gear 309 and worm 310.L The operation of either mgnet 307 or 308 rotates the worm 310 and shifts the angular position of the brush shaft 306 with respect to the motor shaft 304. The stroke of the magnet 307 is restrained by pin 311 and adjustable stop 312 for accuracy of correction. )A description of the control of th.; corrector magnets will be given later, and amore detailed discussion will be found in Patent No. 1,670,461, grant-ed to G. A. Locke May 22, 1928.

The reversal of direction of sending is controlled by timing cams 611, 612 and 613. These cams are `geared to shhft 607 which is driven by the necessary gearing from worm 608, which, in turn is driven through clutch 606 by a shaft `feared to the brush shaft 614. In order thatI the timing mechanism at all stations may be started at the proper time, shaft 607 may be lowered by means of cam 609, out of engagement with the driving gears of the timing cams without disengaging it from worm 60S. Shaft 607 is normally locked in its operative position by lever 610. W'ith the shaft disengaged the. timing cams may be set in a predetermined position as indicated bymarkings on the knobs. In practice clutch 606 would then be disengaged and held there by latch under the control of magnet 615. Shaft 607 would then be restored to engagement with the timing cams and the timing operation started by an impulse operating magnet 615 and the corresponding magnets at the relay station and the east terminal station, thus starting the timing at all stations. In the present disclosure it is assumed that cam 613 makes four revolutions a minute and closes its contact for six seconds; cam 612 makes one revolution a minute and closes its contact for' fifteen seconds and cam 611 makes one revolution in 12 minutes and makes two closures of approximately twenty seconds each at six minute intervals. Cam 611 is one of a plurality of cams (not shown) rotating on the same shaft and cut to give a number of time intervals. The Contact operating arm is movable to cooperate with any one of the cams and vary the time of transmission in the two directions to accommodate the tra-flic. Cam 611 provides for six minute transmission in each direction. For a complete description of the timing operation to- `fether with the special means for starting the timing operation reference may be made to application of G. A. Locke and H. H. Haglund (Case 8 1), Serial No. 123,861, filed July 21, 1926.

The actual transfer is brought aboutby transfer cams 410 to 419. These cams are mounted on shaft 406 which is driven by niotor 407 through friction clutch 406.A The speed ofrotation of the shaft is restricted byescapement 409, controlled by magnet 420.

The simultaneous closure of cams 611 and 612 Each time that the distributor rotates, magnet 420 energizes and the shaft moves an annular distance measured by one half tooth on the escapement. As the shaft 406 rotates 'the cams 410 to 419 open and close circuits bringing about the transfer. lVhen the shaft completes a half revolution cam 419 opens the circuit of magnet 420 and, since cam 613 has now opened its contact, the transfer switch comes to rest until the end of the next time interval.

The change-over takes approximately six seconds.

Assuming the transfer switch to be in position for sending as shown at the west terminal, as soon as shaft 406' starts to move at the end of the transmitting interval, cams .(am 417 causes a predetermined, number of operations of correcting magnet 307 so that the distributor will be maintained approximately in synchronism with the distant distributor during the period occupied by the change-over, in which no synchronizing` signals may be transmitted or received. Cam 418 transfers the operating circuit of relay 420 from the sending distributor ring 509 to the receiving ring 209. As the shaft 406 approaches the end of its half revolution, cam 412 connects ground to the leak recorders 217 to 221, and cams 412 and 413 extend the armature of the printer relay y314 to the two halves of ring 201. The operation of the transfer mechanism or local switch may also be initiated by the-operation of a key.

The leak recorders above mentioned are siphon recorders of well known type. One is provided in series'with each -transmitter and one in parallel with each printer. The leak record distributor ring on the transmitting distributor is divided into ieu segments, two for each channel, one covering the rst two code pulse periods and the second covering the last three code pulse periods. The segments of each channel are connected together and directly to the leak recorder which is connect-ed to ground through a. resistance.

`In the case of the receiving distributor the ring is divided into fifty segments. ten seg ments to a channel half of which are unused. Due to the reversal of polarity explained hereinafter the first' two and last .three active 'segments are joined together.

The first two are connected to one terminal of the Siphon recorder and the last three to the other terminal. Both groups are connected to ground through a resistance. This lll 

